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May 29, 2013

Figured out your novel or screenplay story? Not so fast!

We’re so relieved when we come up with a
solution to a problem, like what the story should be of a novel or screenplay
we want to write, that we usually quickly take the first answer. However, there
may be several better solutions we’ll never even consider.

Suggestion: Generate a set of questions that
prompt you to consider additional alternatives. These will vary depending on
what you usually write (or do). For works of fiction, for instance, it might
look something like this

What if this story took place in the past?

What if it took place in the
future?

Who else could be the
viewpoint character?

Older

Younger

Different gender

Where else could it take place?

What if it started in the
middle?

What if it started at the
end?

What if it were a different
genre? (Any that you write or want to write)

What other format could it
be? (e.g., graphic novel, screenplay, novel, short story, novella, monologue,
etc.)

What if the ending were the
opposite of what I have in mind?

Try not to compare them one by one to the first
solution, just write them all down without judging.

Do this for a set time period—say 15 minutes—on
several consecutive days. At the end of a week or so go through all the options
and find the one (or the combination of several) that are most exciting and
promising.

(You'll find lots more right-brain writing approaches in "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)

Comments

Figured out your novel or screenplay story? Not so fast!

We’re so relieved when we come up with a
solution to a problem, like what the story should be of a novel or screenplay
we want to write, that we usually quickly take the first answer. However, there
may be several better solutions we’ll never even consider.

Suggestion: Generate a set of questions that
prompt you to consider additional alternatives. These will vary depending on
what you usually write (or do). For works of fiction, for instance, it might
look something like this

What if this story took place in the past?

What if it took place in the
future?

Who else could be the
viewpoint character?

Older

Younger

Different gender

Where else could it take place?

What if it started in the
middle?

What if it started at the
end?

What if it were a different
genre? (Any that you write or want to write)

What other format could it
be? (e.g., graphic novel, screenplay, novel, short story, novella, monologue,
etc.)

What if the ending were the
opposite of what I have in mind?

Try not to compare them one by one to the first
solution, just write them all down without judging.

Do this for a set time period—say 15 minutes—on
several consecutive days. At the end of a week or so go through all the options
and find the one (or the combination of several) that are most exciting and
promising.

(You'll find lots more right-brain writing approaches in "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon or your other favorite bookseller.)